In a recent study published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Jonas Dickmanns and Lennart Reuter from the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry at TUM investigated how the formation process and the development of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) affect the structure and ionic transport properties of porous graphite electrodes in lithium-ion batteries — a crucial aspect as cell manufacturers increasingly aim for higher electrode loadings and lower porosities to enhance energy density.
🔗 The full article is available open access: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1945-7111/addd4f
Key highlights of the work:
💡 Determination of structural and transport parameters in formed graphite electrodes.
💡 Quantification of ionic resistance, thickness, porosity, and tortuosity after formation.
💡 Characterization of the SEI in LP57 + 2% VC electrolyte, with a density of ~1.07 g/cm³ and thickness of ~16–20 nm.
💡 Porosity assessed via pycnometry, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and precise thickness measurements.
💡 Use of low-temperature PEIS to isolate and quantify the ionic resistance contribution from the SEI and porous structure.